XML 72 R61.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.10.0.1

Derivative Instruments (Gross Notional Amount and Fair Value of Derivatives Contracts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 17,380,622	$ 15,904,127
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	307,303	320,724
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	937,691	1,058,727
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	15,574,135	14,243,031
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	252,115	254,252
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	911,275	1,022,122
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	1,074,173	996,204
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	37,238	59,809
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	1,818	2,372
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Financial Futures
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	347,916	412,438
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Foreign Currency Forwards
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	6,030
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	28
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Consumer Price Index Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	409,023	221,932
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	127	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	2,836	2,160
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Credit Default Swaps
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	1,373,300	961,200
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	6,759	8,319
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	114	1,651
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Equity Options
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	571,845	632,251
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	19,372	23,271
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Longevity Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	928,320	960,400
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	46,090	40,659
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Mortality Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	25,000	0
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	308	1,683
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Modified Coinsurance Or Funds Withheld Arrangements
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	0
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	142,529	122,194
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	0
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	815,970	861,758
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	0	0
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	90,229	152,470
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	10,844,558	10,052,576
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	0
Designated As Hedging Instrument
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	1,806,487	1,661,096
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	55,188	66,472
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	26,416	36,605
Designated As Hedging Instrument | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	435,000	435,000
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	99	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	20,579	20,389
Designated As Hedging Instrument | Foreign Currency Forwards
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	834,238	553,175
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	8,948	1,265
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	2,067	7,720
Designated As Hedging Instrument | Currency Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	537,249	672,921
Carrying Value / Fair Value of Assets	46,141	65,207
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	$ 3,770	$ 8,496

X

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226000-175313

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4D
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109247956&loc=SL51823488-111719

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (a),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624163-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4D
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109247956&loc=SL51823488-111719

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (a),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624163-113959

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226000-175313

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_FutureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_ConsumerPriceIndexSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_EquityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_LongevitySwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_MortalitySwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInModifiedCoinsuranceOrFundsWithheldArrangementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInIndexedAnnuityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInVariableAnnuityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=rga_SyntheticGuaranteedInvestmentContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: